US7800890B1 - Meter cover molding and method - Google Patents

Abstract

A meter cover is provided and includes an opaque portion, including an outer perimeter section to perimetrically fit around a meter, a sidewall extending axially from the perimeter section toward a frontal region and a shield disposed at a portion of a sidewall edge at the frontal region and a transparent portion having an edge, which is shiplap joint bonded with a remaining portion of the sidewall edge and edges of the shield.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a meter cover.

A watt-hour meter typically includes a base housing, electro-mechanical components, electronics and a faceplate capturing all of the device's pertinent information. The assembly is typically incased in what is referred to as a meter cover. The normal expected function of the cover is to protect the internal components of the meter from its service environment, while still allowing visual and communication access to the device while the meter is in service.

In a meter's typical service environment, its internal components are expected to successfully operate within a specified temperature range. Key individual contributing influences would include local ambient temperatures, the metering device's own thermal generation, and heating effects due to solar radiation. The culmination of these three influences will be referred to as the thermal budget. The responsibility of a typical meter's design is stay within its thermal budget considering these three partitioned segments. As the demands for high-powered electronics and communication devices grow in the meter's technology, the metering device's internal thermal generation also grows and, therefore, adjustments to the thermal budget partitioning are necessary. In some cases, adjusting the thermal budget partitioning is possible by mitigating the heating effects due to solar radiation and thereby allowing the metering device's portion of the budget to grow. This is typically achieved through solar radiation shielding.

Typical shielding devices in a watt-hour meter may include, for example, oversized faceplates that shield the internal components, paper-thin polycarbonate sheets that wrap around the periphery of a meter's internal components or opaque covers that include a bonded-on transparent front face. These solutions are, however, relatively costly and difficult to perform.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, a meter cover is provided and includes an opaque portion, including an outer perimeter section to perimetrically fit around a meter, a sidewall extending axially from the perimeter section toward a frontal region and a shield disposed at a portion of a sidewall edge at the frontal region and a transparent portion having an edge, which is shiplap joint bonded with a remaining portion of the sidewall edge and edges of the shield.

According to another aspect of the invention, a meter cover is provided and includes an opaque portion to perimetrically fit around a meter, including a sidewall extending axially from a perimeter toward a frontal region and a shield disposed at a portion of a sidewall edge and a transparent portion, including a first part disposed in parallel with the shield and a second part disposed transverse to the first part and in parallel with the sidewall, the transparent portion having an edge bonded with a remaining portion of the sidewall edge and edges of the shield.

According to another aspect of the invention, a two-color in molding method to form a meter cover is provided and includes molding an opaque portion to include an outer perimeter section, a sidewall extending axially from the perimeter section toward a frontal region and a shield disposed at a portion of a sidewall edge and molding a transparent portion to have an edge, which is shiplap joint bonded with a remaining portion of the sidewall edge and edges of the shield.

These and other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a meter cover;

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the meter cover ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a shiplap joint bond of the meter cover ofFIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an interior of the meter cover ofFIG. 1.

The detailed description explains embodiments of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference toFIGS. 1 and 2 and, in accordance with aspects of the invention, ameter cover10 is provided. Themeter cover10 encompasses all of the advantages of independent solar shields and ambient light shields of typical meter covers and can be formed as one integral low cost component. As will be described below, themeter cover10 is formed in a two-color in molding process that provides a unique balance between opaque and transparent portions of the cover and further provides protection from ambient light and reduces the internal heating effects of solar heating. Themeter10 thereby eliminates the need for additional shielding components or additional assembly processes.

Themeter cover10 includes anopaque portion20 and atransparent portion30. Theopaque portion20 includes anouter perimeter section40, which is sufficiently sized and shaped to perimetrically fit around anexemplary utility meter50. Asidewall60 extends axially from theperimeter section40 toward afrontal region70. Ashield80 is disposed at a portion of asidewall edge61 at thefrontal region70. Thetransparent portion30 includes afirst part33 that is disposed in parallel with theshield80 and asecond part34 that is disposed transverse to thefirst part33 and in parallel with thesidewall60. Thetransparent portion30 has anedge31, which is shiplap joint bonded with a remaining portion of thesidewall edge61 and exposededges81 of theshield80.

The shape of thetransparent portion30 extends down into thesidewall60 for visual reasons and acts as a fundamentally more robust design with respect to impact characteristics. For example, a frontal impact to themeter cover10 will result in compressive loads being applied to the lower hemisphere region (thesecond hemisphere64 described below) and shear loads being applied at the upper hemisphere region (thefirst hemisphere63 described below). This construction is unique as compared to other meter covers that have a clear front face only and experience joint damage from impacts due to high shear loads at their joints.

With reference toFIG. 3, theshiplap joint bond75 is achieved between theedge31 of thetransparent portion30 and thesidewall edge61 as well as the exposededges81 of theshield80. Theedge31 includes aflap32 that overlaps with or is overlapped by complementary flaps62 and82 of thesidewall edge61 and the exposededges81. Bonding between theflaps32,62 and82 occurs at the molecular level, as will be described below, and requires no additional adhesive or structural fastening features although it is understood that adhesives and/or structural fastening features could be employed for further support. As shown, corners of theflaps32,62 and82 may also be rounded for improved material flow considerations.

With reference back toFIGS. 1 and 2, theperimeter section40 may include aflange43. Theflange43 is connectable with an external surface of themeter50 and/or a support structure on which themeter50 is mounted. Thesidewall60 extends axially from an interior region of theflange43 toward thefrontal region70.

Thesidewall60 may include afirst hemisphere63 and asecond hemisphere64. Thefirst hemisphere63 extends axially toward and reaches thefrontal region70. Thesecond hemisphere64 also extends axially toward thefrontal region70 but is axially shorter than thefirst hemisphere63. In some embodiments, thesecond hemisphere64 is sufficiently axially short to thereby exposeinterior components51 of themeter50 to observation from an exterior observer.

Theshield80 is oriented in a plane that is transverse to a plane of thesidewall60. In this way, theshield80 may be oriented in parallel with a front face of themeter50. Theshield80 may also be plural in number with at least first andsecond shield portions83,84 disposed on opposite sides of themeter cover10 to define anaperture85 between them and a relativelylarge opening86 adjacent to theaperture85. Theaperture85 and theopening86 may be positioned to expose adisplay unit52 and identification information of themeter50 and are substantially spaced from shield requiring components of themeter50. Theshield portions83,84 provide increased shielding for themeter cover10 as well as increased shade from ambient light and, in some embodiments, are positioned proximate to a shield requiring component of themeter50.

With reference toFIGS. 1,2 and4, theopaque portion20 and thetransparent portion30 may be further formed to cooperatively define acommunication port90 through which a light emitting diode (LED) or a set of LEDs disposed on themeter50 can be exposed for connection to an external tool. In these embodiments, theopaque portion20 is formed to define one or more through-holes91 exposing each LED disposed on themeter50. Thetransparent portion30 is formed to define a raised boss92 proximate to the through-hole(s)91 andtubing93 extending through the through-hole(s)91 toward the LED. As shown, the raised boss92 may have a horse-shoe shape and be positioned to bracket the through-hole(s)91 although this is merely exemplary and it is understood that the shape of the raised boss92 need only resemble the shape of the external tool and its distance from the through-hole(s)91 be set in accordance with a size of the external tool. Thus, the horseshoe shape of the raised boss92 provides axial alignment and radial orientation for the external tool.

In further embodiments, a magnetic material94 is disposed on or in the raised boss92 of thecommunication port90. The magnetic material94 complements magnetic material of the external tool and facilitates connection and alignment between the external tool and the LEDs disposed on themeter50.

With reference toFIG. 4, at least one of theopaque portion20 and thetransparent portion30 may include aninterior surface100 withribs101 formed thereon. Theribs101 can be provided in various configurations and may be formed in various shapes to reduce material volume and/or increase surface area. With theribs101, a material strength and heat dissipating characteristics of theopaque portion20 and thetransparent portion30 can be increased. Theribs101 may also provide a translucent effect when and if the opaque portion is substituted with a clear material.

While theopaque portion20 and thetransparent portion30 may each be formed in various shapes and sizes, theopaque portion20 may be further formed with at least one of ambient light blocking and light filtering materials. Theopaque portion20 may be relatively lightly colored and/or polished and, in addition, may offer UV protection of theinterior components51 of themeter50. Both theopaque portion20 and thetransparent portion30 may be formed of materials which are similar or different but which are combinable for performance and cost effectiveness.

In accordance with another aspect, a two-color in molding method to form ameter cover10 is provided. The method includes molding theopaque portion20 and thetransparent portion30 to include the features discussed above and, in some cases, to include thecommunication port90 having the through-hole91, the raised boss92, thetubing93 and the magnetic material94. The method may further include forming ribbing on an interior surface of at least one of theopaque portion20 and thetransparent portion30 and at least one of relatively lightly coloring and polishing a surface of the opaque portion.

According to a further aspect, a two-color in molding method to form ameter cover50 is provided and includes molding anopaque portion20 to include the features discussed above, waiting for a predefined period of time during which a material of theopaque portion20 partially hardens and molding atransparent portion30 to include the features discussed above.

The predefined period of time is sufficiently long to allow the material of theopaque portion20 to partially harden and still become molten in contact with molten material of thetransparent portion30 during the molding of thetransparent portion30. The predefined period of time is not so long, however, that the material of theopaque portion20 completely hardens such that it fails to become sufficiently molten during the molding of thetransparent portion30. As the molten material of both theopaque portion20 and thetransparent portion30 harden together, molecular level bonding occurs at and around the shiplap joint of theflaps32,62 and82.

While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (20)

1. A meter cover, comprising:

an opaque portion, including an outer perimeter section to perimetrically fit around a meter, a sidewall extending axially from the perimeter section toward a frontal region and a shield disposed at a portion of a sidewall edge at the frontal region; and

a transparent portion having an edge, which is shiplap joint bonded with a remaining portion of the sidewall edge and edges of the shield.

2. The meter cover according toclaim 1, wherein the sidewall comprises first and second hemispheres, the first hemisphere reaching the frontal region and the second hemisphere being axially shorter than the first hemisphere.

3. The meter cover according toclaim 2, wherein the second hemisphere has an axial dimension to expose interior components of the meter.

4. The meter cover according toclaim 1, wherein the shield is oriented transverse to the sidewall.

5. The meter cover according toclaim 1, wherein at least one of the opaque and transparent portions comprises a ribbed interior surface.

6. The meter cover according toclaim 1, wherein the opaque and transparent portions are formed to define a communication port.

7. The meter cover according toclaim 6, wherein the opaque portion is formed to define a through-hole exposing an LED disposed on the meter, and

the transparent portion is formed to define a raised boss and tubing extending through the through-hole toward the LED.

8. The meter cover according toclaim 7, further comprising a magnetic material disposed on the raised boss.

9. The meter cover according toclaim 1, wherein the opaque portion comprises at least one of ambient light blocking and light filtering materials.

10. The meter cover according toclaim 1, wherein the opaque portion is at least one of relatively lightly colored, polished and UV protecting.

11. The meter cover according toclaim 1, wherein the transparent portion edge is at least one of frontally overlapping of and frontally overlapped by the remaining portion of the sidewall edge and the edges of the shield.

12. The meter cover according toclaim 1, wherein the transparent portion edge is shiplap joint bonded with the remaining portion of the sidewall edge and the edges of the shield at a molecular level.

13. A meter cover, comprising:

an opaque portion to perimetrically fit around a meter, including a sidewall extending axially from a perimeter toward a frontal region and a shield disposed at a portion of a sidewall edge; and

a transparent portion, including a first part disposed in parallel with the shield and a second part disposed transverse to the first part and in parallel with the sidewall, the transparent portion having an edge bonded with a remaining portion of the sidewall edge and edges of the shield.

14. The meter cover according toclaim 13, wherein the sidewall comprises first and second hemispheres, the first hemisphere reaching the frontal region and the second hemisphere being axially shorter than the first hemisphere,

wherein the second hemisphere has an axial dimension to expose interior components of the meter.

15. The meter cover according toclaim 14, wherein the second part of the transparent portion is adjacent to and disposed in parallel with the second hemisphere.

16. A two-color in molding method to form a meter cover, the method comprising:

molding an opaque portion to include an outer perimeter section, a sidewall extending axially from the perimeter section toward a frontal region and a shield disposed at a portion of a sidewall edge; and

molding a transparent portion to have an edge, which is shiplap joint bonded with a remaining portion of the sidewall edge and edges of the shield.

17. The two-color in molding method according toclaim 16, wherein the molding of the transparent portion comprises molding first and second transverse parts of the transparent portion to be parallel with the shield and the sidewall, respectively.

18. The two-color in molding method according toclaim 16, further comprising forming a communication port.

19. The two-color in molding method according toclaim 18, further comprising disposing magnetic material in the communication port.

20. The two-color in molding method according toclaim 16, further comprising forming ribbing.

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